Maximum levels set for dioxins and PCBs in
feed and food

The European Commission has today adopted new implementing legislation
setting maximum levels for the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like Polychlorinated
Biphenyls (PCBs) in food and feed. Maximum levels for dioxins in food of animal
origin and all animal feed have been applicable since July 2002. However, due to
lack of sufficient data and scientific information at the time, no levels were
set for dioxin-like PCBs. Since 2002, new data on dioxin-like PCBs has become
available, and the legislation adopted today lays down mandatory limits for the
combined level of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. From November 2006, any food or
feed in which the sum of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs exceeds these maximum
levels will not be allowed to be marketed in the EU. The reduction of persistent
chemicals such as dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs in the food chain is an important
part of ensuring the health and safety of EU consumers. Dioxins and PCBs have
toxic properties which can provoke a series of health problems, including
cancer, immune and nervous system disorders, liver damage and sterility. The
maximum levels adopted today contribute to the comprehensive Commission
strategy, launched in 2001, to reduce the level of dioxins and PCBs in the
environment, food and feed.

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Markos Kyprianou
said: “In setting these maximum levels, the Commission is taking another
step forward in protecting the EU consumer from the harmful long-term effects of
dioxin and dioxin-like PCB consumption. We will continue to pursue our
comprehensive strategy against these noxious substances, continually reviewing
the ways in which we can reduce human exposure to them. It is now up to national
authorities to ensure that monitoring is properly carried out, so that citizens
in all Member States can rely on the same level of protection against these
contaminants.”

Protecting the EU consumer

Dioxins and PCBs are toxic chemicals that can provoke serious health effects
such as cancer, hormone disruption, reduced ability to reproduce, skin toxicity
and immune system disorders. They are extremely resistant to any degradation
process, which means that they persist in the environment and accumulate in the
food chain. In an effort to reduce human exposure to these toxins, maximum
levels for dioxins in food of animal origin and all animal feed have been
applicable since July 2002. However, due to lack of sufficient data and
scientific information at the time, no levels were set for dioxin-like PCBs.

Since 2002, new data on dioxin-like PCBs has become available, and the
legislation adopted today lays down mandatory limits for the combined level of
dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, based on World Health Organisation (WHO) toxic
equivalency factors for these substances.

Food and feed operators have primary responsibility for ensuring that the
maximum levels are complied with, while Member State authorities must carry out
checks and report to the Commission on their findings. The Commission intends to
further review the maximum levels by 31 December 2008, with a view to
significantly reducing them further.

More expected targets

It is foreseen that the Commission will also adopt a Recommendation next
Monday which sets “action levels” and foresees “target
levels” for dioxins and PCBs in feed and food. The action levels are
intended as a tool for the early warning of higher than desirable levels of
dioxins in food and feed. They are set at a lower level than the maximum levels,
and if the action level is exceeded, an investigation should be carried out as
to the cause of the presence of dioxins. Once identified, measures should then
be taken to reduce or eliminate this cause. This should result in a further
decrease of the presence of dioxins and PCBs in feed and food. The target
levels, which will be subsequently set, are the levels to be ultimately achieved
in order to bring human exposure below the recommended tolerable intake. Target
levels will act as the driving force for further measures.